Sound-conveying apparatus



July 10, 1928.

o. R. GRASS scum: CONVEYING-APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22, 1924 Patented July 10, 1928.

NITE STA' OTTO R. GRASS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR I'O ORG-TONE COMPANY, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SOUND-CONVEYING APPARATUS.

Application filed September 22, 1924. Serial No. 738,994.

This invention relates to new and im proved sound recording and reproducing apparatus and, more particularly, to a construction adapted to be applied to phonographs of the Edison type, so that they may be used for both reproducing and recording.

As is well known in the art, phonographs of the Edison or hill and dale type are provided with a positively driven tone arm. In order to permit such machines to play lat eral cut records, it is customary to provide attachments adapted to connect a suitable sound box to the positively driven tone arm and to permit necessary lateral playbetween the sound box and the tone arm.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sound box coupling of this type which is further adapted for use in recording records upon the machine.

It is also an object to provide a coupling of this character which will permit the sound box to be positively or loosely coupled to the driven tone arm, as may be desired.

It is an additional object to provide a coupling adapted to receive a supplemental sound conveying channel to introduce sounds to the sound box for recording purposes.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have shown in the accompanying drawings one preferred form of construction in which- Figure l, is a side elevation of my improved coupling connecting a sound box and tone arm. 7

Figure 2, is a View of Figure 1 as seen from above, 7

Figure 3, is a section taken on line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4, is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5, is ase'ction taken on line 55 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6, is a section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

The tone arm 11 is of a usual type and is positively driven by mechanism well known in the art. The connector member 12 is provided with the portion 13, fitting into the tone arm 11 and secured therein by set screw 14. It is to be understood that the particular method of securing the coupling to the tone arm is dependent upon the form of commercial tone arms and this connection may be'eflected by means of pins, bayonet slots, or any means necessary for attachment to existing types of tone arms. 1

The connecting member 12 carries the coupling body member 15 as best shown in Figure 3. The member 15 is provided with the cap 16, which is threaded into the upper end of the member and which bears on the three bearing points 17 ofthe member 12.. The member 18 is rotatably secured to the member 15 by means of thenut 19 and set screw20, which engages the extension 21 on the member 15. V The'elbow 22 connects the member 18 and the sound b01123. The elbow 22 is provided with a spiral groove 24 adapted to cooperate with the spring pressed ball 25 as shown in Figure 5. The other end of the elbow 22 is provided with an arcuate groove adapted to cooperate with the spring pressed ball 26 carried by thesound-box- These rotatable connections permit the sound box to be turned down from the position in which it is shown to a horizontal position for playing the hill and dale, or Edison types of records.

The member 12 is provided with aset screw 27adapted to engage the member 15 when it is desired to prevent rotation of the member 15 in the member 12. One end of the member l5is provided with a removable cap 28 retained in place by the set screw 29.

A record horn 30 is provided having a tubular portion 31' adapted to fit into the horizontal cavity 32 in the member 15. The shoulder 33 on the member 31 limits its inward movement at the desired point;

It will be understood that when the machine is vused for reproducinglateral cut records, the set screw 27 will be moved outwardly to clear the member 15 and the coupling and the sound box will be free to move laterally relative to the positively driven tone arm. This free-movement is very materially assistcd by the limited bearing surface for the coupling afforded by the three point support of the contact 17. When it is desired to play Edison records, the sound box will be rotated in the clockwise direction as permitted by the ball 26 and then the elbow 22 will be turned and drawnout as permitted by ball 25 to bring the sound box to a proper horizontal position.

The apparatus may be used for recording sound by turning the sound box to the lateral cut position in which it is shown in the drawing. The cap 28 is .removediby loosening ,theset screw 29. The portion 31 of the horn 30 is introduced as shownin Figure 3. The set screw 27 is tightened to cause the sound box to move with the positivelyclriven tone arm 11.

The needle is placed upon a record blank upon which the sound is to'be' recorded and the machine started in Operation. The de sired sounds are directed into the born 30 and are recorded on the record blank by the needle. Since the arm 11 is positively driven, the needle will inscribe a closely spaced spiral upon the record blank. The sound transmitted through the horn will cause the spiral to have the necessary lateral sound undulations.

By removing the horn and replacing the cap 28 and'then loosening the set screw 27, the machine is restored ;to the lateral cut playing-position. The records made or any other lateral out An additional feature "of the construction lies in the fact that the cap 28 may be removed and a .radio loud speaking unit connected at that point .to the open end of the member 15. The tone armand sound cham 'ber oi" the phonograph are then utilised to amplify sounds transmitted by radio.

I'have shown one preferred form of con struction, but it is to be understood that I contemplate suchchanges and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 7

'1. A sound box coupler and sound recording means for sound reproducing instruments. comprising means adapted to connecta tone arm and sound box, a removable closure covering an opening in said coupler, and a horn having a portion insertable in said opening to thereby communicate with said tone arm.

2. A sound box coupler for sound reproducinginstruments, comprising a connector member adapted to be rigidly connected to a tone "arm, a coupling member supported by the connector member and movable about a vertical axis in the connector member, means connecting a sound box to the coupling member, and means to prevent rotation of the coupling member about its vertical axis.

3. A sound box coupler for sound reproducing instruments, comprising a connector member adapted to be rigidly connected to a tone arm, a coupling member supported by the connector member and movable about a vertical axis in the connector member, means connecting a sound box to the coupling member, a removable closure on the coupling member and .a recording horn insertable into the coupling member to com municate through the coupling member with the sound box.

4. A sound box coupler for sound reprorecords may be then played;

ducing instruments, comprising a connector member adapted to be rigidly connected to a tone arm, a coupling member supported by the connector member and movable about a vertical axis in the connector member, means connecting a sound box 'to the coupling member, means toprevent rotation of the coupling member about its vertical axis, a removable closure on the coupling member and a recording horn insertable into'the coupling member to communicate through the coupling member with-the sound box.

7 5. A sound box coupler for sound reproducing instruments, comprising a connector member adapted to be-connected to a tone arm, the connector member having a vertically ,extendin cylindrical opening therein, small spaced bearing points on the connector member adjacent the upper endof the cy1indrical opening, a coupling member having 7 .a cylindrical portion extending upwardly into the cylindrical opening in the connector member. and a cap secured to. the upper end of the coupling member and'bearing on the bearing points on the connector member.

6. A sound box coupler for sound reproducin instruments, comprising a connector,

member adapted to be connected to a tone arm, the connector member having a vertically extending cylindrical opening therein, a coupling member having a cylindrical por tion extending upwardly into the cylindrical opening in the connector member, a cap secured to the upper end of the coupling member and bearing on the connector member, said coupling member having a horizontally extending cylindrical portion, means connecting one end of said portion with a sound box and a removable closure on the other end of the portion.

7. A. sound box coupler for sound reproducinginstruments comprising a connector member adapted to be connected to ,a tone arm. the connector member having a vertically extending cylindrical opening therein, a coupling member having a cylindrical portion extending upwardly into the cylindrical opening in the connector member, a. cap secured to the upper end of the coupling memher and bearing on the connector membe said coupling member having a horizontally extending cylindrical portion, means connecting one end of said portion with a sound box, a removable closure on the other end of the portion, a horn adapted to be inserted into said portion when the closure is removed to communicate'with the sound box. and means adapted to prevent movement of the. coupling member in the connector member. I

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 18th day of September, 1924;.

orro R. GRASS. 

